Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Crestor to:
- reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and the need for certain kinds of surgery in some adults
- lower high cholesterol or high triglycerides in adults
- lower cholesterol and slow the worsening of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in adults
- lower cholesterol levels in adults and some children with certain genetic cholesterol conditions
Read on to learn about Crestor and its cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Crestor, including its uses, refer to this overview article.
Cost of Crestor
Like other medications, the cost of Crestor can vary. Certain things may affect its price, such as:
- your insurance plan, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy you use
To find out how much Crestor costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the following section.
Coupons for Crestor
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Crestor.
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for Crestor when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Available app for coupons
To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.
Cost considerations for Crestor
Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription medications:
- Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Crestor. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Crestor. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price for the drug.
- Three-month supply. If you’re taking Crestor long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.
If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.
If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.
Common questions about Crestor and cost
Here are some common questions about Crestor and their answers.
Is there a cost difference between Crestor 5 mg and Crestor 10 mg?
Possibly. Crestor comes in several strengths: 5 milligrams (mg), 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg. The drug’s strength may be one factor that affects its cost. But there are other factors too, including insurance coverage.
Insurance plans can vary in how they cover drugs and the copays they charge for medications.
Contact your insurance provider or ask at your pharmacy to learn how much you’ll need to pay for Crestor.
Why are costs different for brand-name drugs?
Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.
Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes medication work.
This competition may help keep the costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So, they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.
Ask your doctor if you’d like to know more about the cost difference between brand-name and generic drugs.
Brand-names vs. generics
Crestor is a brand-name medication. It’s available as a generic version called rosuvastatin.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.
If your doctor has prescribed Crestor but you’re interested in taking rosuvastatin, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.
To learn how the cost of Crestor compares with the generic version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company.
What to ask about Crestor
This article provides cost information related to Crestor. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. You’ll find a link to coupons for Crestor near the beginning of this article.
If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.
Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:
- Would taking the generic version of Crestor help me save money on my prescription?
- Are there other ways I can lower the cost of Crestor?
- What options do I have if I can’t afford this medication?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
